TWO big wins and two heavy defeats typified Alcester Bowling Club’s rollercoaster week as most of the teams completed their season.
In Division Three of the Northfield League, Alcester visited Romsley & Hunnington A where they went down by 44 shots, picking up just two points to the home side’s eight.
Only John Alderson (21-17) and Renny Bannister (21-19) were able to produce winning cards, although Ken Harvey went agonisingly close (21-20) as he suffered his first defeat of the season in this league after 15 successive victories.
The A team finished their S&W Birmingham Over 60s Division Six season with a 62-shot home win against Woodlands A.
Half the team won to single figures – John Slater (21-3), Renny Bannister (21-7) and Ken Harvey (21-9) – whilst Jean Bannister and David Whittington (both 21-14) and Ken Craddock (21-17) completed the 10-0 rout.
In Division Seven the B team, having clinched promotion the previous week, became champions with a 25-shot win at Woodlands B.
A superb 21-6 winning card from Jean Sherrington was backed up by wins for David Hodgson (21-13) and Geoff Spiers and Trish Barry (both 21-15) as Alcester cruised to a 10-2 victory.
Both sides completed their Yardley Wood Superleague season, but with differing fortunes.
In Division Two the A team entertained Yardley Wood Social Club and picked up only three winning cards.
Carole Slater (21-6), Jean Bannister (21-9) and Ken Craddock (21-11) all produced excellent victories which were sufficient to give them an 18-shot overall victory and this 26-15 success lifted them into third place in the final table, just a single point ahead of their opposition.
In Division Four the B team travelled to Ye Olde Knowle B and only Rick Horton (21-20) could produce a winning card as the team crashed to an 85-shot massacre.
This was by far their worst defeat of the season but, although the home side won 34-3, Alcester managed to cling on to fourth place in the final table.
Things were much better in Division Two of the Heart of England League in which a 60-shot victory over visitors Maggies B gave the A team promotion as champions.
Excellent wins for Brian Lees (21-4), Ken Craddock (21-8) and Renny Bannister and Carole Slater (both 21-9) were supported by John Slater (21-14) and Ken Harvey (21-15) to give Alcester a 16-2 victory to end their season.
The second heavy defeat of the week for the B team came in Division Four as they lost by 75 shots at Triplex without a single winning card and this 18-0 defeat brought to an end their disappointing season in this competition.
The over 60s section of the Heart of England League brought a narrow but welcome win for the A team when they entertained Green Man A.
Successes for Renny Bannister (21-9), Ken Harvey (21-13), Val McDermott (21-14) and David Whittington (21-19) gave the home side a seven-shot victory which lifts them off bottom place in the table, but still leaves relegation an almost certainty.
In Division Five the B team once again suffered defeat when they visited Kings Norton B as just one winner – John Willis (21-12) – could not prevent a 40-shot defeat.
Although they went down 15-1, they held on to top spot in the table, with promotion still a very real possibility.
